Whenever anyone takes a close look at a program funded by the so-called stimulus, it seems that more government waste is discovered. One such program that was exposed recently involves a program to weatherize houses, under the idea that the homes need less energy to heat and cool, and jobs would be created because of contractors being hired for the service. Let’s just say, things didn’t go as planned.
A report released by the Government Accountability on Feb. 11 said that through the end of last year, only $9,100 homes were a part of this program, even though 593,000 homes were supposed to be involved, according to the Obama administration. And how much money has been allocated to this boondoggle? A cool $5 million.
It’s not like the warning signs weren’t out there already. Way back in June of last year, an Associated Press story called the weatherization program “one of the most difficult-to-track portions of the $787 billion recovery act signed into law by President Barack Obama in February.” Unsurprisingly, it’s yet another example that Obama’s promises of transparency have been just that. If you can’t see where the money’s going and why, that’s not change – that’s more of the same.
Weatherization is a part of a wider effort by the White House to create “green jobs.” Ostensibly, by programs like weatherization, the administration intends to deal with our energy problems and bring down the unemployment numbers. However, in practice, it’s simply not working.
California, deep in its own fiscal crisis, was supposed to be a major beneficiary of the push toward green jobs. It hasn’t. Firstly, though the Obama administration said that California has seen more than 100,000 jobs created because of the stimulus, very few have been green jobs.
As well, analysis by the Los Angeles Times showed that what green jobs were created were in research. In other words, people are getting paid to come up with good ideas for green jobs. Enjoy the irony here – people are getting paid through stimulus funds to come up with ideas that the stimulus was supposed to be paying for right now, not at some indeterminate part of the future.
Is it any wonder that more and more Americans are turning to Republicans every day? The Obama administration, aided by liberal Democrats in Congress, has plowed through taxpayer dollars like they’re spending Monopoly money. They’re throwing around Park Place cash with a Baltic Avenue income. These days, conservatives are becoming more inventive about taking their message to the public. Liberals seem to be doing a great job themselves at proving that the conservative plan is right.
Obama’s Arrogance Grows by $1 Trillion
Monday, February 22nd, 2010Small children are taught, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s a way to instill in children a sense of perseverance. In general, this is a good thing. Leaders in business, in politics, great athletes, they all have to overcome obstacles and, sometimes, seemingly insurmountable odds.
Then there’s just being arrogant.
President Obama is not content to sit by after his first plan to institute a government takeover of health care is being rejected from coast to coast. It’s so bad, his friend in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid, had to cut backroom deals just to get the Senate to pass a version of the plan. Then, liberals decided that the only way to reconcile the House and Senate versions of this big-government behemoth was to again shut out everyone else.
The issue here is not that Obama hasn’t succeeded, but that he’s spectacularly failed. There have been marches, calls and letters to legislators, spontaneous grassroots organizing by conservatives and incredible election wins by conservatives. Sometimes it’s time to admit that you got beat, and take your ball and go home. Not this administration.
Monday, Obama released a new health care plan that has a span of 10 years and the outrageous price tag of $1 trillion dollars. In the end, it’s just like the latest offer during a bargaining session at a marketplace stall. And the American people aren’t buying. The new plan still mandates coverage, puts more business-killing regulations on the health care industry and raises taxes on some insurance plans.
On top of that, the new plans mark an unprecedented Federal involvement in handling insurance. Instead of letting states continue their long-established practice of supervising insurance companies, and deciding what was best for that particular state, Obama wants a seven-member Health Insurance Rate Authority. Just what we need – more bureaucracy and more Federal meddling in state affairs.
Liberals have already seen what happens when they try to ram through a health care plan that nobody wants. Their arrogance was repudiated by conservatives winning statewide in New Jersey and Virginia, and Scott Brown’s amazing victory in Massachusetts. The public is up in arms about watching, day after day, their wishes, wants and needs going unheard and unheeded in Washington.
This is certainly catastrophic for the Democrat party. Hopefully conservatives can get into gear and stop these plans before they become catastrophic for America, as well.
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